24 replies to this topic

[Rip Rap]

I reckon that red stuff is woodmeal. (Small darker brown lumps). Raw saltpetre (Hence the lumps), and a little BP. Also some red gum or Accaroide resin.

It was a solid lump in the tube - it is only semi-powdered in the picture because I had to chip it out with a wooden dowel.

Because of its solid, crystaline condition, I would go with raw saltpetre & red gum - with the B.P. mixed in to ensure it keeps burning. The red gum (or other resin) would certainly account for its rock hard state. But even with the B.P., would red gum alone be enough of a fuel for the saltpetre? Just going by its appearance, I dont think there is any woodmeal.

Edit - Sorry Mortartube - on closer inspection you may be right! - There may be very finely powdered wood meal mixed in!

By anychance is the delay comp of the unit touching the touchpaper for initial ignition?

If you mean the report unit - no. The delay in the report unit is lit by the B.P. lift charge as it fires.

Edited by Rip Rap, 27 May 2009 - 11:41 AM.

[Mortartube]

I know Standard used woodmeal to cheapen things as they had large sacks of it there in some mixing sheds. Perhaps if you can look at it under a magnifying glass it may help. The lighter brown may even be powdered shellac!

[pyrotechnist]

Ah so the quick match is wrapped within the touchpaper, thanks for clearing the delay up motartube.

[Rip Rap]

Ah so the quick match is wrapped within the touchpaper, thanks for clearing the delay up motartube.

Erm No!
The "quickmatch" passfire is under the delay in the outer firework tube - i.e. the touchpaper is lit - the delay flare comp lights & burns for a few seconds, then lights the passfire which flashes around the aerial report to the B.P. lift which fires it in to the air.

[concept]

Just so that everyone is clear on how a classic airb**m is constructed here is a cut away diagram (which I hope is accurate!)

[dave]

Just so that everyone is clear on how a classic airb**m is constructed here is a cut away diagram (which I hope is accurate!)

does anyone know what the delay composition used in the flash / noise unit was ?
dave321

[Rip Rap]

Just so that everyone is clear on how a classic airb**m is constructed here is a cut away diagram (which I hope is accurate!)

Excellent representation concept - only one slight inaccuracy - the "flash delay" comp has the delay cone shape pressed on the other side - ie the flash powder side. The side against the lift charge is flat.

[pyrotechnist]

I assume the delay mix within the tube also caused a cap to help give the device more height. Very clever design yet simple, thanks for the image concept.

[The Legendary Graham]

I presume you mean the aerial report itself? If so, this is a reply I gave to a similar question on another forum -

All of the Airb**bs that I have seen, the actual "b**b" bit was a card
tube, plugged with clay one end & a delay comp pressed in the other.
This delay comp was formed with a cone shape pressed into it on the
inside, so that as it burnt through, it would burn to the apex of the
cone, then flash into the burst charge, while still providing
confinement. The burst charge was flash powder made with bright
aluminium.
Alot of the later ones were simple side fused into the lift charge,
but the earlier top fused, blue touchpaper ones, had a delay comp in
the top of the mortar. This burnt down to the "b**b". Wrapped around
the projectile was paper quickmatch (for want of better description)
- basically this was 2 pieces of paper, pressed together with 2 trails
of B.P. between them. This "quickmatch" flashed around the projectile
to the B.P. lift charge.

The full thread is here link

EDIT - As I didnt describe it very well, I have uploaded a pic of the passfire "quickmatch" tape that was wrapped around the b**b. It transfered fire from the delay comp above the b**b, to the B.P. lift charge below it.

lol i used to cut these down the middle and put them inside a roll up and offer them around to much hilarity.

[concept]

Hi everyone, another item that I am looking for is a Standard parachute floating light, if anyone has one or more live ones could you PM me and I'm sure we can sort a deal out.

Thanks Doug